Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Donations needed to help Bowlby

Natasha Bowlby is hoping to paddle in support of breast cancer at the International Dragon Boat Festival in Peterborough, Ontario this month, but she needs help from the community to get there.

The festival in Peterborough is the world-wide festival, and will be hosting over 65 teams from all around the world, including South Africa, Italy, and America, as well as several Canadian teams.

Bowlby is the only support paddler going to the Festival from Manitoba, and because she is not a member of any team she will need financial support from the public to get there.

“I’m accepting any donations people can give, and anyone who donates gets to sign their name on my paddle to show their support for breast cancer,” said Bowlby.

Dragon boating is a 2000 year old sport that started in ancient China. It’s a competitive racing sport in long boats, usually holding 22-23 people; 20 paddlers, 1 drummer to keep the rhythm, and 1 caller or steersperson at the rear of the boat. Bowlby has been paddling for roughly five years, and travels to her home in Nova Scotia most summers to paddle competitively with the Bosom Buddies, the team her mother is a part of.

“Dragon boating is a lot of fun,” said Bowlby, “All sorts of people can do it, and it really is a great way to build new relationships with your team mates.”

Bowlby’s mother, Eileen Bowlby, is a 13 year survivor of breast cancer, and Natasha’s inspiration for paddling. Eileen started dragon boating after her friend recommended it to help strengthen muscles after breast cancer treatments, and it stuck with her since then.

Natasha enjoys the sport so much that she has been working to bring it to Brandon since earlier this year, and has a team of roughly 23 people organized which just had its first on the water practice. For more information about dragon boating, and how you can get involved, email Natasha at brandondragonboat@gmail.com or drop by the Brandon Paddling Club at Dinsdale Park.

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